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Posted 2010-02-18 22:35:28  
South Africans bid for Fahidi feat

 Friday’s sixth card of the 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival at Meydan is another eight race card and kindly sponsored by the Commercial Bank of Dubai. The night’s feature is on turf and a field of 11 have been declared for the Group Two Al Fahidi Fort over 1600m.

South Africa have a great record in the race and both Mike De Kock and Herman Brown seek to win a race they have dominated between them – sharing five victories since 2003.

Brown scored twice with Linngari and this year Ryan Moore has elected to ride Bankable over Bronze Cannon. Moore said: “He is a very nice horse and seems in good form. It is a strong renewal of this race but I expect him to run well.”

De Kock, seeking a fourth victory, saddles Imbongi (pictured) who was fifth last year but ran well in the UK over the summer and made a very pleasing return over 1400m on Tapeta. Christophe Soumillon rides and De Kock said : “We were delighted with his first run back and he is in good form at home. Godolphin will be hard to beat but he should run a good race.”

Godolphin are well also represented and Frankie Dettori takes the ride on Justenuffhumor who was last seen running a close third at the Breeders’ Cup for Kiaran McLaughlin.

Ahmed Ajtebi partners 2007 Group One Racing Post Trophy winner Ibn Khaldun with Ted Durcan on Fravashi to complete a strong trio for trainer Saeed Bin Suroor who said: “Ibn Khaldun will probably need the run more than the other pair, while those two are having their first start for us. Fravashi has useful form in Australia and Justenuffhumor’s American run is very good form.

“All three have been going well at home and we have to be hopeful of at least going close.”

Although that is the feature, the preceding 1600m conditions race on Tapeta, the CBD Worldmaster Card, will attract a similar level of interest with De Kock choosing this race as the one in which he will unleash Group One winner Eagle Mountain.

He only ran twice last year but is reported in good order by the handler: “I think he is as fit as we can get him and this race looks ideal to test him on the surface. If we want to run him in the Dubai World Cup he needs to show us he can race on Tapeta.”

It is a warm little race with Consul General, third in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round I, Brian Meehan’s Cat Junior and Godolphin’s West Side Bernie among a host of dangers.

The only Purebred Arabian race opens proceedings and the Group Two Bani Yas, over 1200m on the Tapeta has attracted an interesting field in which Doug Watson’s Quaolina, runner-up last year (on turf) could be hard to beat.

Richard Hills rides her leaving Tadhg O’Shea to partner Nesnaas who represents the in-form Gill Duffield and rates a big danger.

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